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BU alum Dan Ruffin retires as head coach at Peoria Central; Daniel Ruffin hired

Da Coach

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Dan Ruffin, a Peoria Central HS grad, played for Bradley from 1976 to 1979. He was recruited by and played a couple years for Joe Stowell, but played his final season under Dick Versace. He served as an assistant coach under Chuck Buescher for many years at Peoria Central. Then, and after Chuck won back-to-back state titles in 2003 & 2004, Dan Ruffin took over and has been their head coach for the last 16 seasons. He won a state championship in 2012.
Today, he announced he will retire from teaching and coaching after this school year.
https://www.pjstar.com/sports/20200324/dan-ruffin-retiring-as-peoria-high-boys-basketball-coach

One of the names being mentioned to replace Dan Ruffin is his son Daniel Ruffin, also a Peoria Central and Bradley grad. Daniel played for Jim Les from 2003-2008, and helped lead the Braves to the Sweet 16 in 2006 along with former Peoria Central teammate Marcellus Sommerville. Daniel is an assistant with his father at Peoria Central.
 
Outstanding news for Daniel Ruffin. I think I just gained interest in local high school basketball.
 
Can't wish harder for Daniel to have success. I loved watching him play and seeing him on campus when I was a student.
 
Dan Ruffin, a Peoria Central HS grad, played for Bradley from 1976 to 1979. He was recruited by and played a couple years for Joe Stowell, but played his final season under Dick Versace. He served as an assistant coach under Chuck Buescher for many years at Peoria Central. Then, and after Chuck won back-to-back state titles in 2003 & 2004, Dan Ruffin took over and has been their head coach for the last 16 seasons. He won a state championship in 2012.
Today, he announced he will retire from teaching and coaching after this school year.
https://www.pjstar.com/sports/20200324/dan-ruffin-retiring-as-peoria-high-boys-basketball-coach

One of the names being mentioned to replace Dan Ruffin is his son Daniel Ruffin, also a Peoria Central and Bradley grad. Daniel played for Jim Les from 2003-2008, and helped lead the Braves to the Sweet 16 in 2006 along with former Peoria Central teammate Marcellus Sommerville. Daniel is an assistant with his father at Peoria Central.

Update- Daniel Ruffin, the son of recently retired Peoria Central HS boys basketball head coach Dan Ruffin, was offered the new head coaching job and has accepted it. It still needs to be approved at the next school board meeting, but that seems like a formality. Congratulations to former Bradley Brave Daniel Ruffin!
 
So happy to hear that Daniel will be the next basketball coach at my High School. So many great coaches over the years have led the program. Dawdy Hawkins was the head coach when I was there, Harry Whitaker, Bruce Boyle, Chuck Buescher, and Daniel’s father, Dan Ruffin. Looking forward to another State Title for the Lions!!
 
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